By: Saidu Jalloh (Intern)
The Former Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Baindu Dassama Kamara on the handing over of the Ministry to the incoming Minister, Madam Melrose Karminty, revealed that Christian will now pay pilgrimage to Israel or Rome. The handing over ceremony took place last week at the Ministry of Social Welfare Conference Hall at New England Ville, Freetown.
Before the handing over of office to the newly appointed Minister, the Former Minister, Madam Baindu Dassama Kamara expressed gratitude to president Bio for giving her the opportunity to serve the Ministry for five years.
“In the religious trend, the directorate has worked with relevant authorities that constitute both the Hajj committee and the Christian pilgrimage. It is hopeful that the very first time in our nation’s history Christians will benefit from the coordinated pilgrimage group to either Israel or Rome in the near future. This is in line to cultivate the beauty of religious tolerance and peaceful co – existence between the principal religion in Sierra Leone.”
She explained her successes with the ministry, in which she stated that the ministry had provided cash transfer and other items to victims of the August 10 landslide, and September mudslide with the support from the Chinese Embassy.
“We provided recreational centre and educational material to mudslide and flooding disaster victims and their teen children with support from UNICEF,” she explains.
She further narrated that the ministry had established protection desk at the Susan Bay for fire accident and to address protection issues and also provide services for victims.
The Former Minister said, “The Ministry has resolved number of inter and intra base faith conflict, carryout assessment of religious groups applying for either registration or renewal of certificate. Monitored places of worship enforce compliance with the guidelines provided to those religious places of worship. Coordinated inter faith worship at national program, played the monitored role in coordinating.”
In addressing the newly appointed Minister and Journalists, the Former Minister highlighted the challenges faced by the Ministry to the newly appointed Minister. In highlighting these challenges, the former minister, Baindu Dassama Kamara said, “delay in accessing government fund has been a major setback for the ministry, also the ministry have zero point zero one percent (0.01%) of the government budget, outstanding debts to contractors, paying of contractor for the supply of diet to remind homes in Freetown and Bo.
She reiterated that they had had contract awarded to contractors to rebuild or refurbish the remand home in Bo and Freetown (Kingtom and Approve School). “Those contractors have still not received their 30% payment, inadequate building to accommodate staff of the Ministry, two of the ministry buildings were destroyed by fire accident in 2019 and 2022 respectively,” the former minister added.
She thanked international partners for their support to the ministry over the years, and also said that several efforts had been made to international partners to help build those building destroyed by fire, but they hadn’t succeeded. “All we heard from them is that those projects are capital project should be listed off to the government.” She added.
The newly appointed Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty commended the Former Minister for holding on to the ministry for five years and for officially coming to the handing over ceremony of the ministry.
” I want to thank you with all my heart for coming here today for the former handing over of the ministry and for taking time to highlight the challenges and successes of the ministry over the years. I take it in good fate, and I know you are just a phone call away. I can rely on you for help and advice on certain issues,” said Karminty.
She appreciated the former minister for working relentlessly to achieve the President’s vision.
“You have done extremely well for the ministry, and I will like to tap into those blessings to do more. Even His Excellency, I am sure he is very grateful to all those who supported him in his five years to achieve his vision.”
The Minister also assured the Former Minister that she would build on her legacy but importantly going to work to address those challenges highlighted by the Minister.
“I held a meeting with staff of the ministry this morning. I told them that we are here to build on what has already been built by the former minister. The foundation which she has laid, the policies she has developed, these are all the things we are going to work with and some few idea that I will bring in for the betterment of the ministry,” the Minister said.